Rumblings xtra: Items that didn't make print edition

By: Bob Hunter

The Columbus Dispatch - October 25, 2013 08:51 AM

The odds on Ohio State winning the BCS national championship are rising, according
to betting site Bovada.com. The Buckeyes are now the fourth choice at 15-2, after being the third
choice at 6-1 before their struggle last weekend with Iowa.

Alabama remains the favorite at 8-5, with Oregon a t
7-4 and Florida State at 3-1. The Seminoles were 12-1 before thrashing Clemson. Baylor is the fifth
choice at 10-1.

With all the talk about the woeful performance of Browns quarterback Brandon
Weeden and his subsequent benching this week, little is being said and written about the team’s
other big issue: defense.

The Browns have given up 23 points or more in five of
seven games; in the last two they've given up 31. In the last three games, opponents are averaging
28.6 points against the Browns. They rank 29th in third-down defense. They rank 26th in yards
allowed per game.

Fired Reds manager Dusty Baker told the Detroit Free Press that he Tigers general
manager Dave Dombrowski was the first baseball man who tried to hire him after his playing career
ended and he would love to hear from him again. Tigers manager Jim Leyland announced his
resignation about the team was eliminated by Boston in the American League Championship
Series.

“I’ve always respected Dave Dombrowski and what Dave
has accomplished,” Baker said. “I have the ultimate respect and friendship for Jim Leyland. I’d be
flattered and honored to be given such an opportunity.”

Dombrowski tried to hire Baker after the 1987 season.
Dombrowski was working in the Montreal Expos front office and he was interested in having Baker
manage a team in the Expos’ farm system. Baker has just recently retired from a 19-year playing
career in the big leagues. He was working as a stock broker at the time.

“Dave was the first guy who tried to hire me,” Baker
said. “I like to fish, and I knew he’d done his due diligence because he sent me a bunch of fishing
brochures from the area where the farm club was located.”

Baker didn’t start managing until 1993 when he took
over the San Francisco Giants.